Ireland Case No. 8582Murder · Co. Offaly · 12 Jan 2022
Appeal against backdating of Jozef Puska's life sentence for Ashling Murphy murder dismissed
On 12 January 2022 Ashling Murphy, a woman, was killed by a canal at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, and Jozef Puska, a man reported as aged 31 or 35, was arrested that month. A jury convicted Puska of her murder in November 2023, and trial judge Tony Hunt imposed a mandatory life sentence backdated only to that verdict, not to the arrest. Puska abandoned his conviction appeal the week before his sentence appeal. On 16 July 2026 the Court of Appeal refused to backdate the sentence a further 22 months and dismissed his appeal, ending the proceedings.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering Ashling Murphy, a woman, in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- Where
- The killing took place at Cappincur, Tullamore, by the canal towpath between Tullamore town and Digby Bridge, near Ms Murphy's home.
- When
- The murder happened on 12 January 2022.
- Cause
- The jury found that Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck.
- Weapon
- The jury also found that Ms Murphy was slashed once with the edge of a blade.
- Investigation
- Puska's bicycle was found a few feet from Ms Murphy's body, and his DNA and fingerprint were found on it.
- Puska's DNA was found under Ms Murphy's fingernails.
- CCTV captured Puska cycling the same bicycle around Tullamore that afternoon, stalking two women before heading towards the canal.
- Charges
- Puska was arrested in January 2022 and charged with murder, and he pleaded not guilty.
- In court
- The jury delivered its guilty verdict in November 2023.
- Puska abandoned his appeal against conviction the week before the sentence appeal was decided.
- On 16 July 2026 the Court of Appeal refused to backdate the life sentence a further 22 months and dismissed Puska's appeal, ending the proceedings.
- Sentence
- Puska received a mandatory life sentence, which trial judge Tony Hunt backdated only to the November 2023 verdict and not to his January 2022 arrest.
- Other details
- Puska's age is given as 31 in one article and as 35 in others, and a monument now stands where Ms Murphy died.
36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJozef Puska lost a bid to have his life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy backdated to when he first went into custody. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereAshling Murphy was walking along a canal near her home in Tullamore, Co Offaly. (rte.ie)
- whereThe murder happened at Cappincur, Tullamore. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at Cappincur, Tullamore, by the canal towpath between Tullamore town and Digby Bridge. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Cappincur, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenPuska murdered Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022. (rte.ie)
- whenThe murder happened on 12 January 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenPuska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy on 12 January 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal on Thursday 16 July 2026. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenPuska was convicted of murdering Ms Murphy on January 12, 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeThe jury found that Puska stabbed Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck. (limerickleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- weaponThe jury found Puska stabbed Ashling Murphy 11 times in the neck and slashed her once with a blade. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- weaponMs Murphy was also slashed once with the edge of a blade. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationPuska's bicycle was found a few feet from Ashling Murphy's body. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationPuska's DNA and fingerprint were found on the bicycle. (leinsterexpress.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- investigationPuska's bicycle was found a few feet from Ms Murphy's body. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationPuska's DNA was found under Ms Murphy's fingernails. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCCTV captured Puska cycling the same bicycle around Tullamore earlier that afternoon, stalking two women before heading towards the canal. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationPuska's DNA and fingerprint were found on his bicycle at the scene. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe sentencing judge refused to backdate the sentence to Puska's arrest in January 2022. (rte.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal refused to backdate the life sentence a further 22 months. (rte.ie)
- courtPuska pleaded not guilty to the murder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtPuska abandoned his appeal against conviction the week before the sentence appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Puska's appeal against the backdating decision. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtPuska's counsel argued the judge gave no basis for refusing to backdate the sentence to his arrest. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal held that the sentencing judge had discretion over backdating and had given reasons for not backdating. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. (limerickleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtPuska had abandoned his appeal against his conviction for the murder the week before the sentence appeal. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentencePuska was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe sentencing judge backdated the sentence to the date of the jury's guilty verdict in November 2023. (rte.ie)
- sentencePuska will continue to serve his mandatory life sentence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe trial judge backdated the life sentence only to the jury's verdict in November 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentencePuska received a mandatory life sentence, backdated only to the jury's verdict in November 2023. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe trial judge backdated the life sentence only to when the verdict was returned in November 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherPuska abandoned his bid to overturn his conviction the week before the appeal decision. (rte.ie)
- otherA monument now stands where Ms Murphy died. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jul2026Jozef Puska loses appeal to have life sentence backdated for murder of Ashling Murphy
Reports the Court of Appeal ruling on the sentence backdating appeal, the abandoned conviction appeal, and details of the trial evidence.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, 35, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska - 16 Jul2026Jozef Puska loses sentence appeal for murder of Limerick graduate Ashling Murphy
Reports the Court of Appeal's ruling on Puska's appeal against the backdating of his life sentence, and that he had abandoned his conviction appeal the week before. Adds the trial evidence (CCTV, bicycle, DNA) and the court's reasoning.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska - 16 Jul2026Jozef Puska loses appeal in latest Ashling Murphy court action
Court of Appeal ruling on the sentence start date only, after the appeal against conviction was abandoned the previous week. The article gives Puska's age as 31 in the photo caption and as 35 in the body text, so no age is recorded.
convicted, Jozef Puska, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puskavictim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphy - 16 Jul2026Appeal court refuses further backdating of Puska sentence
Court of Appeal refused to backdate the life sentence further than the November 2023 guilty verdict date, ending the case. Puska had abandoned his bid to overturn his conviction the week before.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyconvicted, Jozef Puska, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska